Ethel I. Oyen, 89, of Williston, ND, formerly of the Hanks and Zahl, ND area, died Thursday evening, January 10, 2019, surrounded by family at the CHI St. Alexius Hospital in Williston, ND. Fulkerson Stevenson Funeral Home of Williston is assisting the family.

Ethel was born August 24, 1929, on the homestead farm of Hans Anders Oyen and his wife, Grace Oakes Oyen. She joined sisters, Beatrice and Marion, and brother, Andrew, followed by siblings, Herbert, Franklin, Dorothy, Gerry, Gale and Kenneth.

Ethel attended school in Hanks, and was proud of her accomplishment as a basketball player in state tournaments. In 1948, Ethel was in the first Licensed Practical Nurses training program at Mercy Hospital in Williston, ND. Upon completion of her nurses training, Ethel worked at Mercy Hospital for a few years, and then moved to Billings, MT, later to Spokane, WA, then Denver, CO, working in her lifelong nursing profession. While living and working in Denver, Ethel began her career with the VA Hospitals, and eventually moved to Tacoma, WA with the VA Hospitals, where she retired after 24 years of service. She moved back to North Dakota to enjoy her retirement years closer to family.

Ethel enjoyed golfing and playing cards. Family was important to Ethel. She always tried to attend every family function, from nieces and nephews graduations, weddings, siblings anniversary parties, and many family reunions.

She was a member of First Lutheran Church in Williston for many years.

Ethel is survived by her sister; Dorothy Peterson; brothers, Gerry (Karen) Oyen and Ken Oyen; brother-in-law, Donald Guenther; sister-in-law, Lou Oyen; Stefani, Erik and Liz Pfaff; and many nieces, nephews, and their families.

Ethel was preceded in death by her parents, Hans Oyen and Grace (Clarence Jacobson); sisters, brothers, and siblings spouses: Beatrice (Harvey) Selby, Bud (Marilyn) Oyen, Marian Guenther, Herbert (Norma) Oyen, Franklin Oyen, Gale Oyen, Robert Peterson, and JoAnn Oyen.